Banned Books Week has been a nationally observed week celebrated by book lovers all over the United States for the last 30 years.

The purpose of this annual commemoration is to give special attention to books that have either been banned or challenged in schools and other institutions across the country.

Over the years, books have been banned or challenged for various reasons, including foul language, drug references and racial slurs. Among these are the renowned classics "Gone With the Wind" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." A complete list of contested titles can be found at the American Library Association's website.

During a tour of the campus library at New Mexico State University-Carlsbad, Library Services Director Akilah Nosakhere discussed a few of her favorite books that have been a topic of controversy over the years.

"My favorite would be 'The Color Purple,'" she said. "It was banned because of offensive language, homosexuality, sexual explicitness and troubling ideas about family relations and race relations."

Even "Charlotte's Web," a classic children's book, has made the list.

"Charlotte, the spider, compares herself, they say, with God," explained Nosakhere. "That's why it was banned."

Under Nosakhere's leadership, the NMSU-C library has been observing Banned Books Week since 2010.

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Every year, students, faculty and staff can sign up to read a pre-selected section of the banned book of their choice at a recorded reading to commemorate the week.

This annual event is open to public and will be held on campus from 3-4 p.m. today (Oct. 3).

"We're promoting it because we believe that reading is a right, and we believe in intellectual freedom as an academic institution in the state of New Mexico. Everyone should have a choice as to what they read," said Nosakhere.

Nosakhere is very thankful for the freedoms she has as an American to read anything she wants. Censorship is dangerous, she claims. "I have my personal standards, but I don't think it's good to censor. It gets very personal and subjective."

Beth Nieman, a youth services librarian at the Carlsbad Public Library, agrees. "We definitely support people's right to read and choose what they want to read. It's rooted in the First Amendment to the Constitution because is guarantees freedom of the press," Nieman said.

Nieman has been a librarian since 2001, and she is inspired by the late Dr. S.R. Ranganathan who wrote his famous "Five Laws of Library Science" in 1931.

"His second law suggests that every reader in the community be able to get the book that he or she wants. We will always try to get books for people if we don't have it," she said.

When asked why Banned Books Week is so important to her, Nieman listed a few examples of books she has enjoyed that have been challenged in the past.

"I really liked 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley. I read that one in high school. It was available in my school library, so I'm glad I was able to read that."

Also on Nieman's list of favorites is the "Harry Potter" series that was recently banned from an Artesia school for its dabblings in witchcraft and mysticism.

"Those were fun for me to read," added Nieman. "I really support the right of people to read. It's important to have a well-informed society. You must have plenty of material to read."

So how do librarians and others react to someone who wants to ban or challenge a book?

Nieman believes that individuals should be allowed to make their own decisions pertaining to their own personal reading habits.

"One thing you should know is that libraries are really committed to making sure that people do have the books they want to read. People don't have to read books that don't pertain to their interest," she said. "Not every book is for every person, and you have to be mindful of what you choose."

Nosakhere put it simply: "You have a choice to read or not to read."

Nieman encourages everyone in the community to get involved in making this week memorable.

"A good way to celebrate Banned Books Week is to make sure you have a library card, and make use of it."